The Last Voyage of the Albatross

Have any of you all seen the movie "White Squall?" It came out in the late 90s. It's about a boat that is similar to a boarding school. Strange comparison, I know.. but boys who were troubled were sent there to sail while also being taught school lessons. The biggest thing they seemed to learn was disiplin, working together, and friendship.

I think this movie is so interesting because it's about a "white squall" which is still something thought by many to be a myth! This phenomenon consists of a very sudden windstorm that's extremely violent. A lot of tragedies at sea blame these. They are rare at sea.. hence the myth factor. They are somewhat common on the Great Lakes.

White squalls don't have the normal dark sky that other storms have. Seamen identify them by the white tips of the waves being so violent. I love to go on cruises and now I'm terrified to go at sea, even if the chances are insanely low!

It turns out the movie was based on a book written by one of the boys named Charles Gieg. He went by Chuck and that is who the movie centers around. I think part of what is so exciting to me is that I watched the movie and liked it.. just to find out it was a true story. I didn't know anything about it going in, which sometimes makes for the best movie.

So, the book came out in 1962. I believe it came out only in hard cover, as I have never seen any others. A rare book published by a company no longer in exsistance, this book is REALLY hard to find. I found it on Amazon for $150-$200.

I searched other sites and found that it was only in less than 100 libraries in the US. And.. not in any in Indiana!

I wanted this book so bad, I don't know why.. but I was thinking about going to Ohio to read it in their library, haha. Luckily for me I decided to check out our library first to see if they had a copy not registered online. I ended up finding out they can get books from other libraries. I now hold the original and only version of The Last Voyage of the Albatross here with me for the next two weeks.

I'm so excited, I literally JUST finished something I wanted to finish up first.. so after this post I'm going to start reading it. If anyone wants to see pics just ask me.. I took some for Dina. :) I just do not know how to put them on here anymore, forgot!

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